Thread by @HeshmatAlavi

#BREAKING
Reports indicate missile/rocket landing in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, inside the U.S. Embassy vicinity.
Reuters witness says major explosion heard.

#BREAKING
Numerous U.S. helicopters in the air over Baghdad, Iraq.
Sky News reporter: Rocket hits Baghdad's Green Zone. Entrance to the U.S. Embassy closed.

#UPDATE
Rocket fell in Celebrations Square inside Baghdad's Green Zone close to the U.S. Embassy.
No impact on the US Embassy.

My take:
#Iran-backed militias carried out this attack to save face while being careful not to harm any Americans, knowing Trump would respond strong.

CORRECTION:

The video of U.S. helicopters was over Fallujah, not Baghdad.

Apologies.

#UPDATE
Initial reports suggest two rockets were launched from Baghdad's Karkh area.

Credit: @no_itsmyturn

My take:
The range could indicate a mortar attack or Type 63 107mm rockets used. The latter, in my opinion.

@no_itsmyturn #BREAKING
Multiple rockets strike Balad Airbase, located north of Baghdad, that hosts U.S. troops.

@no_itsmyturn #UPDATE
At least three rockets strike Balad Airbase, located 80 km north of Baghdad, Iraq.

Map credit: @BaxtiyarGoran

@no_itsmyturn @BaxtiyarGoran #BREAKING
#Iran-backed militias launching attacks in Iraq
-US Embassy, Baghdad
-Al-Jadirya district, Baghdad
-Balad Airbase, north of Baghdad
-Al-Kindi Camp, Mosul, northern Iraq
-Former Presidential Palace, Baghdad

@no_itsmyturn @BaxtiyarGoran DETAILS
-6 mortars strike on Nineveh Operations Command HQ at presidential palace in Mosul, N Iraq, host to U.S. forces (Image)

-6 rockets strike former presidential palace in Baghdad, host to U.S. forces

-Numerous U.S. warplanes, helicopters over Iraqi airspace

@no_itsmyturn @BaxtiyarGoran #BREAKING
-Airstrikes reported targeting sites of #Iran-backed militia in near Albu Kamal, western Syria
-Airstrike targeting site of #Iran-backed Kata'ib Hezbollah militia, hosting warehouses of Iranian-made short & medium-range missiles in Al-Qaim region of Iraqi-Syrian border

@no_itsmyturn @BaxtiyarGoran #UPDATE
-#Iran-backed Kata'ib Hezbollah request Iraqi military personnel to keep 1 km away from anywhere U.S. personnel are stationed in Iraq from Sunday evening local time.

-VIDEO: Rocket attack aftermath near U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, 3 Iraqi civilians wounded

@no_itsmyturn @BaxtiyarGoran Images of rocket attack aftermath that targeted a house in Baghdad's al-Jadriyah district.
(Credit: @BarzanSadiq)

#BREAKING
Approx 2,200 U.S. Marines of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit deploying to Middle East

This is separate from the 4,000 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne deploying to Kuwait
military.com/daily-news/202…

#UPDATE
-USS Bataan aircraft carrier, with F-35s & nearly 2,000 Marines, heading towards the Mediterranean

-UK Royal Navy to resume merchant ship escorts through Straight of Hormuz following increasing #Iran tensions

-Jet activity reported over Erbil, northern Iraq

#UPDATE
Video reportedly showing aftermath of the earlier airstrikes reported near Albukamal, western Syria, home to sites affiliated to #Iran-backed militias.

UNCONFIRMED REPORTS

1) #Iran's IRGC & Tehran-backed militia groups reportedly evacuating bases in Aleppo. May be heading to the Mezzeh Military Airport near Damascus.

2) U.S. B-52s flying over Iraq

#BREAKING
#Iran-backed Hashd al-Shaabi (PMF) militia members killed and wounded after airstrikes target HQs on Iraq-Syria border - via Al-Hadath.

https://twitter.com/AlHadath/status/1213551683063746561

#UPDATE
-Germany to send 60 soldiers to Iraq
-German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas intends to hold direct talks with #Iran in order to calm the situation